India, Sept. 13 -- When the British rule ended in 1947, the map of the Indian subcontinent was far from settled. Hundreds of princely states had to decide their political future, and most of them eventually joined India or Pakistan, except the princely states of Hyderabad, Jammu and Kashmir, Junagadh. While Jammu and Kashmir and Junagadh were integrated into India within the following months, Hyderabad remained defiant for more than a year.

Ruled by Nizam Osman Ali, Hyderabad was the wealthiest and most powerful princely state. It initially sought to remain independent rather than join either and issued a royal decree about the same on June 26, 1947.

However, the Indian government was increasingly concerned that an independent Hyderabad...